Welcome to Out of The Dust Homeless Outreach
Transforming Homelessness Through Education, Skill Development, Human Connection & Lasting Change.
Greetings, my name is Dr. Rick Wadsworth — a self-funded, self-directed homeless advocate and educator in Salt Lake City. I have spent 18 months conducting “man-on-the-street” interviews with people experiencing homelessness to better understand their needs, struggles, culture, and the gaps that currently exist in Utah’s response. I have discovered that the symptoms of homelessness are being addressed (i.e. lack of food & shelter) but not the causes of it (i.e. childhood trauma & abuse, family dysfunction, poor role-models, anti-social behaviors, gang-life, incarceration, job loss, skyrocketing rent, medical bills, inability to manage emotions, anxiety/depression, drug addiction, etc.). As a result, most are stuck at the bottom with no way out and the problem getting worse.
This site speaks to three audiences: (1) the public, by encouraging greater understanding and compassion (2) community leaders & policymakers, by sharing firsthand observations and encouraging discussion about both immediate needs and longer-term pathways to stability and (3) people experiencing homelessness by connecting practical education, community resources, human connection, and opportunities for personal growth. Many need to learn life-skills, emotion-regulation, holistic healing principles, self-compassion, trauma recovery work, 12-step principles, and embrace strength-based counseling. (Note: Fear, distrust, and attachment issues go hand-in-hand with homelessness and mental health struggles and should be considered part of any future program development. This Psychology Today article mirrors my experience on the streets.
Out of the Dust recognizes that faith, spirituality, meaning, and a sense of personal worth can be important sources of hope and resilience for many people. Spiritual encouragement is offered respectfully and without requiring any particular religious belief. Homelessness is complex and will not be solved by any single program, but rather, listening to people with lived experience, increasing public understanding, encouraging compassionate connection, meeting practical needs, and exploring educational opportunities can help people move toward greater stability.
This site is a call-to-action to: 1) create public awareness & political dialogue 2) encourage people to donate much needed supplies and 3) locate venues throughout the valley to teach free lifestyle classes. To fix homelessness, new channels of learning and insight must open up for all parties involved—the public, the politicians, and those living on the streets—and appropriate resources directed accordingly. Please join me in this fight to save lives that are literally hanging in the balance because of freezing temperatures, violence, abuse, trafficking, suicide and overdose.
Keep reading, clicking & learning and welcome aboard.
